Two days of travel from central Taiwan to Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, always pains my butt, but my university experience is totally worth it. Of course, at the beginning of my freshman year several months ago, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell everybody this cheerfully and passionately that I love Tufts for I was trying out and experiencing many things on my own for the first time. I left my parents and was living with a stranger from a different culture, I had to do laundry even when I was moody, and had to deal with the cold Bostonians, who tended to turn their eyes away instead of saying hi when I met them on the road, etc. University uprooted the stability and security that I was so used to at my cozy home and especially in the small AST, where you know everyone from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

        Nevertheless, my good dorm experience helped greatly in easing my anxieties for studying abroad. The friends I made in Richardson House, an all female dorm, are very supportive and we often shared our daily experiences at the dinner table. I found out that talking to people is a great way to release stress because I get to clean out a lot of garbage stuffed in mind. Through these random chats, our friendship strengthened day by day and I am excited that I will be living in a suite with the same girls during my sophomore year.

        Additionally, I have to thank my mom for being so patient with me during this transition period. For the first few weeks, I talked to her for an hour everyday to complain just about everything in school but, gradually I was sharing with her some interesting experiences. Despite the fact that we were miles apart, I enjoyed her company during these sweet and low moments.

        Learning how to live by myself is only half of the college experience. Regarding the academics, I think the hardest part to adjust to in university is an overwhelming amount of critical thinking. The profound questions raised in class forced me to dig deep into the subjects and really explore the issue. In high school, one can still sort of feel the borders around subjects, but in university, they want students to think across borders and to truly apply skills. They do not want students to repeat what the book says, but analyze its meanings, assert well supported assumptions, and express opinions. I had a great time in my English class with the theme of conformity and rebellion. We discussed and wrote essays on six books such as One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest and the Brave New World. Other classes that I took during the two semesters of freshman year were Japanese, Spanish, Biology, Modern Dance, Calculus, and Spanish History. Most of my classes were small with around 15 students, so I always had plenty of time to interact with classmates and professors.

        Biology drove me crazy because I had to attend huge lecture classes of around 200 students three times a week and go to a torturous 3 hour lab once a week. Even though I was sitting in the first row, I still barely caught up with the teacher’s rapid lecture pace, so I often had to download biology podcasts for review. During exam periods, I was literally sleeping with my ipod on, spurting terms such as enzymes, the electron transport chain, and the Pedigree.
What I love most about Tufts is that the professors are all very approachable and care tremendously about students’ progress. Whenever I had trouble writing essays, I could always discuss issues with them during office hours. Tufts also has a very friendly learning environment because the school spirit is that students only compete with themselves instead of rivaling each other, so as long as you ask, you will get help from people.

        Tufts’ clubs are quite small too just like those in AST, so I have no problem joining them. I am an Asian American Peer Leader, Public Health at Tufts’ Publicity Chair, Taiwanese Association’s Culture Chair, reporter for Required Reading, an on campus human rights magazine, and volunteer for the American Cancer Society. These clubs connect and expose me to a lot of interesting peoples and activities. With over 200 clubs and volunteering activities, one can always find something that he or she enjoys to devote to. The key simply lies in seizing the opportunities around.

        Another thing that is attractive about Tufts is its great location, which is in the suburb of Boston City. Because the campus is not too close to city distractions, I find it pretty easy to concentrate on my studies. Whenever I feel the need to take a break from school, 30 minutes of subway will take me to the heart of Boston, where all the attractions lie. There are many historical, cultural, and scientific events to experience in the area. I visited the Museum of Fine Arts and watched a musical and two ballet shows in the Boston Globe.

        Despite its scholarly atmosphere, Boston is also renowned for its capricious weather. The winter, coupled with snow and rain, is harsh and long. I have to buy several pairs of snow boots and rain boots in order to survive the weather. The worse experience that I had with snow was at the end of Christmas break when I flew back to Boston. It totally shocked me when I realized that my flight from Los Angeles to Boston was suddenly canceled due to snow storm. That night, I helplessly camped at a McDonald’s in the Tom Bradley International Airport in LA. Although the harsh Bostonian weather is a nuisance, now I am getting used to the cold, I totally embrace Tufts and the city.